For marketers, the holidays can be more chaos than cheer–especially when it comes to Black Friday/Cyber Monday (BFCM) preparations. The pressure to reach sky-high profit goals while competing for attention in a crowded marketplace often overshadows the joy of the season. That’s not just concerning for marketers, who might feel exhausted and uninspired, it’s also evident to your customers when they engage with endless BFCM campaigns that feel impersonal and grasping. These referral marketing examples from top brands show how you can win the holidays while engaging and delighting your customers.
7 Holiday Referral Marketing Examples We Love
The best way to stand out during the holidays is to direct your focus to rewarding your customers. BFCM is the perfect opportunity to invest in a relationship that goes so much deeper than one holiday weekend–and by creating loyal customers in November, you’re guaranteeing customers who will stick with you through December and beyond. Here are some creative holiday ideas that will truly engage your customers, and keep them coming back even after the sales are over.
1. Greenlight Boosts Rewards for the Holidays
Sometimes giving a present is even better than receiving one, especially when giving back to your customers also helps you acquire new accounts! Greenlight leaned into the spirit of giving during the holiday season by offering a higher reward to customers who refer a friend to their platform–but only for a limited time. Reward bursts like this one are a great way to capture consumer attention during busy times of the year.
Why We Love Greenlight’s Holiday Referral Program:
- The time-limited reward burst inspires customers and their referred friends to act fast to get their reward, decreasing time to conversion
- The messaging emphasizes how much customers can earn rather than focusing on selling them something
- Greenlight’s program offers tiered rewards, promising even more money for customers who complete more than one referral
2. The Sculpt Society Gives Something to the Gifters
Oftentimes during the holidays, shoppers aren’t buying for themselves, but for friends and family. The Sculpt Society (TSS) makes sure their customers get the gifts they really want with their Drop a Hint program, where TSS loyalists can nudge friends and family members with personalized links to their favorite products. Not only does The Sculpt Society’s program make gifting easier, it also gives a little something to gift givers and receivers with a $15 store credit reward–everybody wins!
Why We Love The Sculpt Society’s Holiday Referral Program:
- Drop a hint drives high-intent traffic to your site as most gift givers will “take the hint” and purchase something for their loved one
- TSS is reaching a new audience every time a customer shares their drop a hint link–and some of them will stick around even after the holidays
3. Pacific Service Credit Union Rewards Generously
The financial services industry isn’t exactly known for their exciting seasonal promotions, but Pacific Service CU shows that the holidays can be relevant to everyone. With festive imagery and messaging, this referral placement leans into the joy of the season to encourage referral program participation.
Why We Love Pacific Service Credit Union’s Referral Program:
- The big earnings opportunities–$50 per referral and up to $500 total–make this referral program even more enticing, especially during the holiday season when extra cash is extra special
- Referral programs are a great way for CUs to capitalize on BFCM energy despite being outside the traditional scope of the holiday
- Pacific Service makes sharing easy with one-click social share buttons AND a step-by-step guide to earning your reward
3. Purchasing Power Gamifies Referrals with a Holiday Sweepstakes
Purchasing Power’s holiday sweepstakes program makes referrals extra exciting, as each one gives customers the chance to win a holiday shopping spree–in addition to a cash reward. With multiple prizes and ways to earn entries, this promises to spark serious customer engagement and acquisition.
Why We Love Purchasing Power’s Holiday Referral Program:
- The tiered sweepstakes entries act as motivators driving customers to refer more, resulting in more opportunities for conversion and more new accounts
- The email subject, “$2000 sweepstakes is ending soon,” serves to highlight the massive reward while also creating urgency around the impending deadline
- Sweepstakes branded around a seasonal event like this one are better at capturing consumer attention, and also highlight the limited-time nature of the promotion
5. MAC Rewards Members Get Pampered
MAC ran a holiday giveaway with a big payoff–a set of luxurious holiday beauty products worth up to $225 for the grand prize. Rather than tying the giveaway to a specific consumer action, MAC made the deal exclusive to rewards members with no purchase or action necessary.
Why We Love MAC’s Holiday Referral Program:
- This exclusive giveaway makes MAC Lover Rewards members feel like true insiders who can reap real benefits that other customers cannot
- Flashy imagery and typography makes this page really stand out, and drives home the value of the luxury reward
- With no purchase or even referral necessary, this deal is truly all about the customer–but it will drive long-term loyalty that pays off down the road
6. HostGator Gets Creative With Rewards for Black Friday
Web hosting company HostGator ran a Black Friday deal for customers in Brazil with a compelling reward for both advocates and their referred friends. For a limited time, advocates were rewarded with a gift card from among a variety of popular retailers, while referred friends received a generous 60% off web hosting services.
Why We Love Host Gator’s Holiday Referral Program:
- Gift cards are a compelling reward for advocates, especially when customers are already paying for your services and can’t benefit from discounts or store credit
- There is no specific cutoff date on the pop-up, but the mention of Black Friday makes it clear that it is a limited time offer, prompting customers to act urgently
7. Asics Encourages Customers to Make A Wishlist
Asics’ Drop a Hint campaign is simple, sleek, and drives major holiday traffic. Their program has no referral requirement–just a personalized link customers can share to ensure their friends and family know their exact preferences, down to the shoe color and size. Thanks to prominent onsite placement and multiple email campaigns, the promotion remains highly visible all season long.
Why We Love Asics’ Holiday Referral Program:
- The simple headline and copy emphasizes the purpose of a Drop a Hint campaign–getting the gift you want! This relatable feeling makes participation a no-brainer
- This feels like a big win for customers, but with no added expense to your company, it is highly approachable and scalable
- Customers don’t need to take action right away; there are multiple opportunities for customers to participate even as they’re shopping
What You Can Learn From These Holiday Referral Program Examples
No matter your industry, the holidays provide endless opportunities for creative promotions. These 7 examples prove that flashy sales aren’t the only way to get customers to pay attention. In fact, offering them a reward can be even more impactful than offering them a discount–and it leads to deeper loyalty and higher engagement down the line.
A referral platform like Extole can help you run your holiday referral campaigns with pre-made templates for every kind of program, and automated reward delivery to reduce support needs during the chaos of the season. It’s not too late to add referrals to your BFCM strategy–we’ll make launching and managing your programs the simplest part of the holidays.
Book a demo today to see how we can elevate your holiday marketing plans.
FAQs
What are holiday referral programs?
Answer: Holiday referral programs are limited-time promotions where customers earn rewards for referring friends during the holiday season. They help brands boost acquisition and loyalty while standing out from traditional Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts.
Why should brands run referral promotions during Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Answer: Referral promotions cut through the noise of endless sales by rewarding loyal customers instead of just lowering prices. They build long-term relationships, encourage word-of-mouth, and often deliver higher ROI than flash sales.
What makes referral rewards more effective than discounts during the holidays?
Answer: Discounts are short-term, but rewards create ongoing engagement. By giving customers cash, credits, or gifts for referrals, you encourage repeat business and deeper loyalty that lasts beyond the holiday weekend.
How do referral programs increase customer loyalty during BFCM?
Answer: When customers are rewarded for sharing your brand, they feel valued and connected. This emotional connection builds loyalty, turning seasonal shoppers into year-round advocates.
How can I quickly launch a referral program before the holiday season?
Answer: With the right referral platform, you can launch in days, not weeks. Tools like Extole offer pre-built templates, automated reward delivery, and easy integration to get campaigns live before Black Friday.
What types of rewards work best for holiday referral campaigns?
Answer: Cash bonuses, gift cards, store credit, sweepstakes entries, and tiered rewards perform especially well during the holidays. The key is offering rewards that feel festive, valuable, and urgent.
Are referral promotions better as sweepstakes, giveaways, or cash rewards?
Answer: It depends on your audience. Sweepstakes add excitement, giveaways build exclusivity, and cash rewards deliver instant value. Many brands combine them for maximum impact.
Can referral programs be customized for industries outside of retail?
Answer: Yes! Financial services, SaaS, fitness, and even credit unions run seasonal referral campaigns. The structure stays the same—what changes is the type of reward and messaging.
What are some examples of successful Black Friday referral campaigns?
Answer: Brands like Greenlight, HostGator, and The Sculpt Society have all used referral promotions during BFCM. Their campaigns used limited-time bonuses, gift card rewards, and “Drop a Hint” gifting tools to drive engagement.
Which companies use referral marketing during the holidays?
Answer: E-commerce brands, credit unions, fitness apps, and beauty companies regularly run holiday referral programs. They leverage the season’s urgency and gifting mindset to attract new customers.
What are creative ways to use “Drop a Hint” campaigns for holiday sales?
Answer: “Drop a Hint” lets customers share wishlists with friends and family, making gifting easier. It drives high-intent traffic and introduces your brand to new audiences in a natural, festive way.
How does Extole help with running holiday referral programs?
Answer: Extole makes referral campaigns easy with pre-made templates, automated reward delivery, and advanced targeting. This reduces setup time and ensures a smooth experience for both marketers and customers.
Can Extole integrate with my existing e-commerce or financial platform?
Answer: Absolutely. Extole integrates seamlessly with platforms like Jack Henry’s Banno, Shopify, Salesforce, and more, making implementation quick and hassle-free.
